When I first heard of Pop-Culture Paganism/Magick and Techno-Witchcraft/Paganism my first thought was, "Whut?"It seemed strange to me and after looking into it a bit I was still quite confused over the concept.Worshipping a fictional character as a deity? Writing spells around dialogue from a TV show? Using modern day technology as magickal tools? It all seemed a bit absurd to me.As Pagans, we tend to lean toward a more natural path than most other religions. We tend to shun electronics in our practice (save for maybe that Spotify playlist we use for ritual) and think that those sorts of modern day amenities can interfere with our magick and energy. We look towards the Olde Gods and our ancestors during worship or ritual work and not Castiel from Supernatural or our favorite fictional character.But then I really thought about it...and it started to make more sense to me and I realized that I actually incorporated some of these beliefs into my own practices and didn't even realize it.These paths, these traditions are seemingly Pagan evolution. What we now know as Paganism and witchraft is going to be vastly different from what was practices thousands, or even hundreds of years ago. Sure, we have a ton of information that has been passed down from scholars, monks, and familial lineage, but it isn't going to be 100% accurate and that is ok.For instance, (I am going to go a bit off track here) Wicca is one of the most common Pagan traditions you hear about nowadays, but seventy years ago it was a non-entity. It didn't exist, but maybe a concept did in the minds of a few. Someone decided to reinvent and revive a part of the Olde Ways and give it their own twist...and the Wicca we know today is even different than the Wicca of the 50's. Religion and practice is constantly evolving with the times and with the people that practice.So, back to the Techno and the Pop-Culture and why I think it is a valid practice and system of magick as well as religion.What are the Gods? Some of us may see them as real energetic beings, while others view them as just archetypes. They have attributes, correspondences, and stories to go with them, but none of us have physically encountered them, we have faith that they are there and exist on some level, but not physically, at least not anymore (if you view them that way.)Now, Pop-Culture Paganism...I will start with a personal experience.I am a follower of Loki, a Lokean if you will. I have loved his character and archetype since I was young and before I even discovered Paganism. He chose me (as he does) and came to me originally not as his ginger haired self, but...as Marvel's Loki.This seems to be something that is far more common than I realized, at least for the Trickster, but a lot of people who found Him through Marvel were being invalidated by other Pagans and Heathens in the community saying things like "You just really have a crush on Tom Hiddleston and you are delusional for following him because of that."Ouch.Maybe that was the case for some, but Loki of all beings would be the first one to make himself known in this way. The Marvel Loki played by Tom is very different from Himself, but also very much the same. Really, when you look at it, it is Tom himself that personifies the Trickster God and draws people to him. Their personalities are very similar and I feel like Tom channels the God in a lot of ways.And there you go, Pop-Culture paganism. You identify with Loki, but you prefer the Marvel version so you set up an altar and instead of having a fancy, super expensive effigy of Him, you place a Lego Loki or a Loki Helm pendant that you got at con to represent him. This doesn't mean you are necessarily worshiping a fictional character, but this is what clicks with you and how you view that God.There are those, however, that worship actual fictional characters or write rituals around fictional magick, or even perform spells that are written specifically for a TV show or movie.I have actually cast the "To Find a Lost Witch" spell from Charmed (and it worked) as well as using the Devil's Trap from Supernatural to protect my magickal tools and even going as far as tattooing it on my body for protection. These things, though fictional, have some root in truth and the fact that millions of people put their energy and time and love into these things, gives them magick all on their own.It is like the Tulpa (which was in an episode of Supernatural, haha) or thoughtform, a concept in mysticism of a being or object which is created through spiritual or mental powers. The term comes from Tibetan "emanation" or "manifestation".What are these fictional Gods, spirits, and ideas but essentially just that? We give them power and then there they are. But there is also the possibility that if you believe in multi-worlds or multi-dimensions that somewhere out there on a different plane of existence, these characters actually DO exist and could be worshiped and revered.This concept doesn't sound so far-fetched now, does it?Here's another example... tutting. Tutting is inspired by the art of Ancient Egypt (the name derived from the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, colloquially known as "King Tut"), tutting exploits the body's ability to create geometric positions (such as boxes) and movements, predominantly with the use of right angles. It generally focuses on the arms and hands, and includes sub-styles such as finger tutting. This has been used in Pop-Culture magick examples in shows like "The Magicians" and movies like Marvel's "Doctor Strange. What is this but using sacred geometry to cast magick. Not only are you using your will and thought to cast, but the movement of the body to will the energy forward. It may have become popular because of fiction, but it is still valid and a lot of people may have been using a form of this magick without even realizing it.This is how paganism and magick evolves. We have thought, we have intelligence and a thirst for knowledge and we also have the ability to create our own magick and thoughts.As a writer, I am constantly tweaking known magick, lore, and pagan concepts to fit my stories, but they could also be plausibly used in my actual practice. I even wrote my own tradition (and am still working on it) loosly based off of my fantasy novel series, "Faytes of the Otherworld". Sometimes I wonder if fiction like this is the writer channeling actual magick, energy, and practice from a higher being. I mean, how did we get the knowledge that we have about our craft and Paganism in the first place? Even monotheism got it's religion from supposedly God himself, the Bible being written by man but the context being delivered from God, so it would make sense.I have many more examples, but this post has already become rather long.What are your experiences with Pop-Culture Paganism and Magick?Share with us in the comments.part two focusing on Techno-Paganism to follow soon.